by Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY

by Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Leon Panetta ordered the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to determine how to "foster a culture of stewardship" among the military's most senior officers in light of a series of scandals that have rocked the Pentagon, the military announced Thursday.

The findings of Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, will form the basis of a report to the White House on top military leaders, according to the Pentagon. That report is to be delivered Dec. 1.

"Over the past several months, (Panetta) has spoken with the service secretaries, service chiefs, and combatant commanders about those instances when senior officers have not lived up to the standards expected of them," Pentagon press secretary George Little said in a statement. "This has been an ongoing discussion reflecting shared concerns."

The most recent and high profile scandal involves former Army general David Petraeus, the CIA director who was forced to step down after it was revealed that he had an affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell. Petraeus says the affair began after he left the military, which considers adultery a crime.

Also ensnared is Petraeus' successor as top commander in Afghanistan, Marine Gen. John Allen. He is under investigation by the Pentagon inspector general for e-mails he sent to Jill Kelley, a Tampa socialite who held parties for top brass of Central Command based in Tampa.

Kelley's complaints to the FBI about harassing e-mails revealed that Broadwell and Petraeus were having an affair. Panetta told reporters traveling with him on Thursday that he is unaware of any other top officers involved in the scandal in Tampa.

Other investigations into top brass include:

-- Army Gen. Kip Ward who was reduced in rank one star and ordered to pay more than $80,000 in restitution for using military planes and staff for personal business. Ward had commanded Africa Command.

-- Navy Adm. James Stavridis, the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and European Command chief, was criticized by the inspector general for using military aircraft for a personal trip to French wine country. The secretary of the Navy has since cleared him of wrongdoing.